Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influencing factors affecting duck production as possible animal protein or meat source in Nigeria. The study was undertaken in the southwest of Nigeria where poultry practices assume high dimension. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select three states, and from each state, five Local Government Areas (LGAs). One community was chosen from each LGA from which two wards were sampled. Five respondents were randomly interviewed from each ward. In all, a total of 150 respondents were used for the study. The result showed that availability of feeds, cost of input and housing, use of hired labour, age of respondents and membership of cooperative society had significant (P>0.05) relationship with involvement in duck production. The respondents also perceived that taboos and not religion, had influence on duck production. It was therefore recommended that extension contact should be intensified to remove negative perceptions and that supply of inputs and feeds be made accessible at affordable costs. Where the costs of production appear relatively high, people should be assisted to form themselves into cooperatives.

Key words: Animal protein, consumption, ducks production.